US 'needs' India to meet international challenges - US State Dept spokesperson

Washington: – US State Department spokesperson once again underlined the Indian importance; she said that India has emerged as an important country on the international level. The United States is faced with huge international challenges and it cannot face them alone. The United States recognises that it needs India to overcome these challenges. The United States needs a partner like India, to resolve major issues on the international level. Two Plus Two talks were held between Indian and the United States, just two days ago and the spokesperson of the US State Department has praised India during an interview.

Since the last few years, the United States has taken big steps to strengthen the military and strategic cooperation with India, against the background of the increasing Chinese activities. India and the United States signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), in 2016. This was followed by the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), which was signed in 2018. Thereafter, the United States also awarded the status of ‘Major Defence Partner’ to India. Now, during the Two Plus Two talks five important agreements, including the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) were signed. Along with the military sector, cooperation is strengthening even in trade and technology sectors. The statement made by the state department spokesperson endorses the claims.

Morgan Ortagus, the spokesperson of the US Department of State, referred to India and’ Special Partner Country’ while reacting to the Two Plus Two meetings. Ortagus said ‘The India-US relations go beyond political parties and ideologies and they will continue to remain important even in the future. Along with the US defence sector, there is distinctive cooperation between the two countries in every field. There are very few partners like India. The recent Two Plus Two talks indicate the same thing.’

The US spokesperson once again asserted that both the countries are committed to the cooperation for peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. Ortagus said that this becomes decisive in the current scenario of global power struggle.